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Ex-Southampton boss McMenemy: England suffered from inexperience

Former Southampton boss Lawrie McMenemy says England are out of the World Cup due to inexperience.

Saints' 1976 FA Cup winning boss has been saying since Roy Hodgson named his England squad that a lack of experience at the back may cost his side.

Lawrie wrote in the Daily Echo: "When you have so many young players in the squad it is refreshing, but as I pointed out when the squad was announced there is a lack of experience in defence, bearing in mind that Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole were all missing.

"Whilst I am as big a supporter of Luke Shaw as anyone, I think I mentioned it would be better to take the experience of Cole and promise Luke that he would be the future, for arguably five to ten years.

"Recently the FA chairman Greg Dyke apparently said to Roy Hodgson he was happy to try and persuade John Terry to overcome his grievance with the FA which had made him announce he was no longer wanting to be selected, but Roy, if we believe the story, turned down the opportunity.

"I think on reflection after the defeat against Uruguay, John Terry and Ashley Cole would have undoubtedly added strength and experience to the back four."